Quick Potato Side Dishes for Every Night of the Week
Either you love potatoes… or you're wrong. Mashed, hashed, roasted, baked, twice-baked; hash browns, gratin, galettes, croquettes, chips, fries, potato salad, potato pancakes, potato skins. How can a humble tuber, born from the dirt, be so tasty and tempting?
Russets, Yukon golds, fingerlings, Purple Peruvians, baby new potatoes—did you know that there are more than 200 varieties of potato commercially available in the U.S.? There are enough potato recipes and potato varieties to whip up a different potato side dish every day of the year and then start over again. And luckily, we can enjoy potatoes every day of the year thanks to the fact that they keep for months and months when properly stored.
Most potatoes are harvested during September and October, so start looking for the new crops at the farmers' market just as summer is winding down. No matter what time of year you buy spuds, you should store them somewhere that's cool, dark, and well ventilated, like the garage or the basement, or a cabinet on the opposite side of the kitchen from the stove. Put the potatoes in a paper bag or a basket, but if they're in a plastic bag you'll want to make sure it has plenty of ventilation holes or your potatoes will start to spoil (and be warned: a rotten potato can be so smelly, it's almost impressive).
When you decide you need more potatoes in your life—and don't we all?—step right this way to dig up our newest crop of quick potato side dish recipes.
1 of 13
Skillet Paprika Potatoes
Cast iron-crisped new potatoes pair perfectly with smoked paprika and scallions for a quick side dish that will round out just about any dinner—or breakfast!
2 of 13
Potato and Sweet Potato Tian
Gruyère, Granny Smith apples, and leeks bring layers of complexity to this surprisingly easy potato casserole.
3 of 13
Vegan Mashed Potatoes
There's more than one route to creamy, fluffy mashed potatoes. Olive oil stands in for butter and cream to make a luscious mash.
4 of 13
Simple Potato Pancake
Sometimes less is more. In this case, "less" is two ingredients: frozen hash browns and butter. All they need is heat—and a little salt and pepper—to transform into the perfect side dish for any meal.
5 of 13
Smoked-Salmon Potato Salad With Eggs and Herbs
Tidbits of savory, smoky salmon along with a tarragon-Dijon vinaigrette make this potato salad stand out from the pack.
6 of 13
Mashed Russet Potatoes with Cream Cheese
Are your mashed potatoes ready for a glow-up? Stroll down the dairy aisle right past the butter and grab hold of some tangy cream cheese to change up the potato game.
7 of 13
Classic Potato Gratin
Melty, luscious Gruyère cheese and a bold dose of heavy cream are the not-so-secret ingredients in this five-ingredient classic potato casserole.
8 of 13
Rosemary Shoestring Fries
When you're all about that crunch, it's time to get friendly with your mandoline to make piles of crispy golden shoestring fries.
9 of 13
Horseradish Parsnip-and-Potato Rosti
Parsnips and horseradish play a sweet-and-spicy symphony in this giant, crispy potato pancake. Just add fried eggs and you've got brunch (or dinner).
10 of 13
Roasted Potatoes with Oregano and Lemon
Golden-roasted fingerling potatoes are tossed with Greek-inspired seasonings for a gloriously fragrant side dish that begs to be served with simple grilled chicken, lamb, or fish.
11 of 13
Potato Croquettes
Got leftover mashed potatoes? Then you've got croquettes! These crispy little fritters are like the homemade 'tots you never knew you were craving.
12 of 13
Smoky Potato Salad with Sherry Vinaigrette
You'll think you've been transported to a chic tapas bar in Spain as soon as you take your first bite of this simple-but-sophisticated potato salad kissed with smoked paprika, olive oil, and sherry vinegar.